With all of the district’s 13 precincts reporting, Bergosh had 3,346 votes, or 40.79% of the total. Casey edged out Sindel for second place, with 2,442 votes (29.77%) to Sindel’s 2,415 (29.44%).

The race was one of several local contests this cycle which saw a large influx of outside spending from political action committees. A PAC called “Experience Common Sense Leadership Florida,” funded primarily by beer distributor The Lewis Bear Company and developer Jim Cronley, spent more than $25,000 on behalf of Bergosh. A key issue in the race was the future development of the so-called OLF-8 parcel, a U.S. Navy landing field in Beulah which Escambia County plans to acquire for a possible commerce park. Cronley is a key player in that deal.

Bergosh will face Democrat Audra Carter in November’s general election, but the district — which covers much of the western part of the county — leans heavily Republican. The winner will succeed retiring commissioner Wilson Robertson.